East Anchorage Lawmakers to Host Town Hall Meeting to Brainstorm Crime Solutions

Published: June 23, 2010

ANCHORAGE –Senator Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, Representative Pete Petersen, D-Anchorage, and Anchorage Assembly Members Paul Honeman and Mike Gutierrez invite residents to join with Police Chief Mark Mew, Fire Battalion Chief Jim Foster and Community Patrol leaders to discuss how to best address increases in crime in our community. Local leaders want to hear ideas from residents in the community and feedback on their recently released Plan to Make Anchorage Safer.

“Many Anchorage residents feel increasingly unsafe in their homes and on the streets,” said Senator Wielechowski. “We have offered a five-point plan for making Anchorage safer in response to the recent shooting of a police officer in Northeast Anchorage and the increase in violent crime throughout the city.”

Recent statistics show that the per capita rate of rapes, aggravated assault, theft, and arson in Anchorage are all above the national average. Overall, crime rates rose 8% in 2009. The number of rapes rose 7%, to their highest levels in 20 years, while burglaries increased 35% and larcenies rose 8%.

“Rising crime rates are a call for all of us to come together to find ways to turn the tide,” Representative Petersen added. “Anchorage is a great place to live. This town hall meeting is an opportunity for residents in our community to come together so we can discuss the best measures to take to ensure that people throughout the city feel safe.”